Category Archives: charity

Abingdon in Washington

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Thanks to Tony for this report …
Abingdon in Washington
Happy memories of Abingdon were exchanged at the British Embassy in Washington DC last month. It happened at a dinner with Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch for volunteers of the American and Canadian Red Cross. The volunteers, all professional and academic health experts who freely advise the Red Cross, meet twice a year to contribute their expertise to the scientific evidence base for Red Cross programmes and products. To support the collaborative relationship, Emily Oliver of the British Red Cross team, arranged for the delegates to dine at the British Embassy.

Emily, who grew up in Abingdon and attended the School of St Helen and St Katharine, persuaded the Ambassador to host the dinner, and also discovered, to her astonishment, that the Ambassador was educated at Abingdon School.

Sir Kim Darroch was delighted when Emily presented him with an Abingdon School Old Boys tie, and immediately put it on for the dinner and to pose for photographs. Emily commented afterwards: ‘Abingdon School can be proud of the Ambassador who spoke fondly of his time there and also demonstrated strong regard for the humanitarian purposes of the Red Cross Movement.’

Oxfam Farmyard Window – Says Thankyou

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Thanks to Jo Adams (Oxfam Volunteer) for this report
Oxfam Farmyards
Passing by, you might wonder why the shop window of Oxfam on Stert Street, Abingdon has turned into a farmyard, featuring a small calf and a large chicken ? It’s there to say a big Thank You to all the Oxfam customers over the Christmas and New Year Period who donated money to the appeal to buy Farmyards for families living in poverty. From seeds and tools for growing crops, to animals that produce manure, this gift helps farmers get what they need to earn a living as well as training them in sustainable techniques.

In fact, the people of Abingdon were so generous that we raised money for four farmyards, not just one which was the original aim. So thank you – not just from everyone at the Oxfam Shop, but also from all those farmers who will benefit.

Alone at Christmas – and don’t want to be Alone

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Last of the Snowmen
There is an invitation to join the Christmas Dinner at Peachcroft Church on Christmas Day this year. Guests are welcome to arrive from 12.30 pm for a 1 pm start. The event runs until 3 pm. Assistance with transport is available. Places are Free and Booking is essential.
Last of the Snowmen
At Preston Road Community Centre this evening some ladies from the Vineyard Church, who meet every Sunday at the centre, were putting together parcels and food for people – locally – who cannot afford Christmas this year.

Oxfam Pop Up Shop at St Ethelwolds – help of volunteers heart warming after a theft the previous night

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Oxfam Pop Up Shop
70 years after the first OXFAM shop opened in Oxford on Broad Street, a pop up Oxfam shop was set up in Abingdon on Saturday. This was in addition to the permanent Abingdon shop on Stert Street.
Oxfam Pop Up Shop
Lots of volunteers helped set up a  variety of stalls at the St Ethelwold’s pop-up shop, down East St Helen Street.
Oxfam Pop Up Shop
They were there all day to help as customers came and went. I got there rather late when they were packing up so did not get a picture of the sleigh outside.

The manager said it was a wonderful day with so many good people helping. To her it was very heart warming after what had been a bad night. The Stert Street shop had been broken into, through the side shop window. Objects were stolen, as were the contents of a charity box made by school children to raise money for a village in Africa.